Artificial fruit.



PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

S. MILLER.

. ARTIFICIAL FRUIT.

APPLIGATION'IILED MAR. 6, 1906.

INVEN OR;

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A TTORNE V51 4 PATENT OFFICE.

SAM MILLER, OF MARSHFIELD, WISCONSIN.

ARTIFICIAL FRUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed March 6, 1906. Serial No. 304,550.

tion.

The object of the present invention is to provide an artificial bunch offruit in the similitude of bananas for displaying purposes by fruitdealers and the like. i

. With this object in view the present invention consists in thecombination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in theform, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the sec eof the claims without departing from tile spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of t e invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of an artificial bunchof fruit embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof, some of the members being removed to disclosethe mechanical construction of the invention. Fig. 3 is across-sectional View taken through the stem and between adjacent tiersof the artificial fruit. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the spacingelements. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the artificialbananas.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a central stem1, preferably of wood and tapered upwardly in the similitude of the stemof a bunch of bananas. Clustered around the stem, as in the naturalfruit, is a plurality of artificial bananas 2, which will ordinarily beformed of wood. The artificial bananas are arranged in annular sets ortiers, which are graduated in size and increase in lengths downwardlyfrom the upper end of the bunch. Each of the upper sets or tiers ofartificial bananas is carried by a band 3, preferably a wire which isthreaded through a perforation 4, extending transversely through theupper end of each of the bananas, the ends of the band beingintertwisted or otherwise connected.

For the separation of adjacent tiers of bananas I provide two forms ofspacing members, (designated 5 and 6,) each of which is in the nature ofa flat plate or disk having a central opening 7 for the reception of thestem 1. As the stem is tapered upwardly, the sizes of the centralopenings in the successive spacing members decrease upwardly in orderthat each plate may be held at the desired height upon the stem byreason of the frictional engagement of the walls of the opening 7 withthe stem. The set or tier of bananas immediately above each spacingmember hangs down over the outer edge thereof, so as to hold the bananasin an outwardly and downwardly inclined position in imitation of thenatural fruit. As the uppermost sets or tiers of bananas ordinarily hein close proximity, the spacing members are omitted from two or more ofthe uppermost sets of bananas, and each of the other sets of bananas isprovided with a spacing member, the distance between adjacent spacingmem bers increasing downwardly from the top of the bunch. The spacingmembers also increase in diameter in a general way from the top to thebottom of the bunch; but there is no regularity in the increase, as itwill be seen that the next to the lowermost spacing ele- I 'ment'issmaller in diameter than the next above spacing element.

As shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that one of the s acing elements isin the nature of a disk and as a continuous external peripheral edge,while in Fig. 4 there has been illustrated a spacing element having itsouter periphery provided with an annular series of segmental notches orseats 8, in which the bananas of the next above tier are respectivelyreceived, so as to positively hold the bananas in a regular spacedrelation. Such of the spacing elements as have continuous outerperipheral edges permit of the bananas of the next above set beingconveniently adjust-ed to lie between the bananas of the next below set,and therefore enable the convenient adjustment of certain of the bananasso as to give the bunch the desired efiect.

By preference the lowermost set of bananas are not connected by a band,but each banana is individually connected to the stem by means of a wireor other flexible connection 9, the several wires being of difierentlengths, so as to permit of the bananas hanging down in irregular orderat the bottom of the bunch in imitation of the natural fruit.

An eye 10 is provided in the upper end of the stem for convenience insuspending the bunch from a suitable support.

It will of course be understood that the artificial bananas and the stemare painted or otherwise treated to have the color and generalappearance of the natural fruit, and

as the artificial elements are not perishable the present device is veryeifective forthe purpose of display, and by interspersing severalartificial bunches with natural bunches an extensive display may be madewith a minimum stock of natural fruit.

I propose to construct the present device of wood, paper, rubber, orother suitable material, and in lieu of the suspending-eye 10 any otherappropriate suspending means may be employed. While Fig. 2 of thedrawings omits a spacer between the uppermost sets of bananas, it is ofcourse permissible to use one at this point if it becomes necessary.Instead of forming the spacers of wood they may be skeleton in form andmay be of wire.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A bunch ofartificial fruit including a stem, superimposed annular sets ofartificial fruit upon the stem, and a series of spacing devices carriedby the stem andengaging the artificial fruit to support the latter inthe similitude of the natural article.

2. An artificial bunch of bananas comprising a stem which is taperedupwardly, a series of spacing-plates having central openings receivingthe stem and snugly embracing the same to support the spacing elementsthereon, and superimposed annular series of artificial fruit embracingthe stem and hang tive spacing-plates.

3. An artificial bunch of bananas comprising a stem, a series ofsuperimposed spacingplates carried concentrically by the stem, some ofthe plates being provided at their outer edges with notches, andsuperimposed annular sets of artificial bananas embracing the stem andhanging down over the edges of the respective spacing-plates.

4. An artificial bunch of bananas comprising a stem, a series ofsuperimposed spacing elements carried concentrically by the stem,annular sets of artificial bananas hanging down over the edges of therespective spacing devices, and a band connecting the upper ends of therespective sets of artificial bananas and embracing the stem.

5. An artificial bunch of bananas compris ing a stem, a series ofsuperimposed spacing elements carried concentrically by the stem,annular sets of artificial bananas hanging down over the edges of therespective spacing devices, a band connecting the upper ends of therespective sets of artificial bananas and embracing the stem, andindividual connections between certain of the artificial bananas and thestem.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAM MILLER.

Witnesses:

C. S. VEDDER, GEo. H. REYNOLDS.

